Positioning gauge



w. c. CARD, JR

POSITIONING GUAGE 2 Sheets-Sheet` 1 Filed Jan. 4, 1934 INVENTOR. WML/AMV C. CA RD Jkx BY W. C.VCARD, JR

POSITIONING GUAGE Filed Jan. 4, 2 sheets-sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

D R A C. M m u A TTORNEYS.

Patented May 12, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Appiication January 4, 1934, Serial No. 705,179

20 Claims.

This invention relates to a positioning gauge capable of use in numerous different associations, .but primarily intended to be employed n connection with the positioning of shoe soles with reference to a pattern therefor.

Inv its more specific aspects, the p-resent invention aims to provide a gauge which is ideally adapted for the positioning of soles with reference to `a pattern in a sole rounding or similar machine.

A further object of the invention is that of constructing a positioning gauge, the parts of which may be readily manipulated by a relatively inexperienced operator to rapidly and accurately bring a sole to its proper position.

A still further object is that of furnishing a gauge which will be automatically maintained in position until the parts of the machine grip or secure the sole so that there will be no danger of displacement.

Another object is that of furnishing a gauge, the parts of which will be automatically released upon the machine moving to a position at which displacement of thev sole is substantially pre- 25 cluded.

Still another object is that of furnishing an apparatus of this character which will include relatively few parts, each individually-'simple and rugged in construction and capable of ready assemblage and replacement, to provide a gauge operating over long periods of time with freedom from diculty.

With these and other objects in mind, refero ence is had to the attached sheets of drawings illustrating one practical embodiment of the invention, and in whichz- Fig. l is a partly sectional side elevation of a gauge, and showing the same in association with a sole rounding machine; and

Fig. 2" is a partly fragmentary plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

In these'views thenumeral 5 indicates a base, from which a pedestal 6 may extend upwardly. A collar I is normally fixed with respect to Vthis pedestal by, for example, a set-screw 8, this collarserving-as hereinafter brought out-to support the gauge and associated structure in a proper plane. The, pedestal is positioned adja- 50` cent al sole rounding machine, the clamping ram and bed. of. which have been diagrammatically indicated at 9 and I 0, respectively. As is well known` to those skilled in the art, a machine of I th-ischaracter serves tosupport a pattern I I with respect to. which aninner sole I2 is to be properly supported, so that the knife of the machine may cooperate with this sole to properly round or trim the same. The gauge of the present invention serves primarily to properly position the sole with respect to the pattern.

The gauge may conveniently include a bracket i3, which supports a slide I4. A spring I normally urges the slide to assume `a retracted position, and a handle I8 may be secured to the slide so as to project the latter.

With a view to normally maintaining the slide against movement, the bracket I3 is provided in the present exemplification with an upstanding support or ear I'I, to which a cam or detent I8 is pivotally secured by, for example, a pin I 9. In line with the end of this cam the bracket is formed with an opening so that the cam may bear against the upper face of the slide, it being noted that the depth of the cam is such that it may not be swung rearwardly through a vertical plane. Consequently, the cam edge will bear against the slide face and will function as a wedge to prevent the same being retracted. A releasing lever 20 may have its inner end pivotally secured, as at 2l, to the bracket I3, and its outerV end suitably contacted by a portion of the machine, so that, as such portion moves with respect to the gauge, the lever will be swung downwardly. The lever may slide in contact with the inner faces of a pair of ears 22 projecting upwardly from the bracket, and may at this point be engaged by a spring 23 which normally maintains the lever in an elevated position. The wedge or cam may be provided with a projecting portion 24, against which the end of a pin 25 bears, this pin being adjustably coupled to the lever 2B, so that, as the latter swings downwardly, the cam I8 will swing forwardly and upwardly, thus releasing the slide. A spring 26 `may cooperate with the under face of the projecting portion to thus normally urge the cam into locking contact with the upper face of the slide, it being understood that the resistance offered by this spring is not so great as to cause any difficulty in releasing the cam or wedge by movement of the lever 28. Likewise, this spring will not prevent a projection of the slide as the operator pushes the same forwardly by means of the handle I6.

Secured to the outer end of the slide are a pair of arms 21, this connection being preferably established by means of a pin 28, with respect to which the arms may oscillate. These arms are normally drawn towards each other by a spring 29, a slotted link 3l) serving to limit inward as well as outward movement of these arms with respect to each other. Mounted adjacent the outer end of each arm are a pair of rollers. These rollers may, in each instance, embrace a cylinder 3| and a disk 32. The cylinder or disk may be relatively rotatabl-e or not, as may prove most desirable, but it will be noted that the cylinderin the present eXemplication--has a circumference less than that of the disk, so that the disk 32, adjacent its point of contact with the pattern II, will extend beyond the face of the roller 3| to an extent suiicient to assure a proper and corresponding projection on the part of the sole I2 with respect to the pattern. In addition to serving as an arm limiting member, the link 3l] acts in cooperation with the pattern II to prevent the slide from being projected to too great a distance. In other words, as the operator projectsthe slide, the link 30 will engage the forward edge of the pattern I I, thus functioning as a stop to prevent too great a projection on the part of the slide. However, the link lies in a plane such that it will not engage the sole I2.

In operation it will be appreciated that if the present gauge is employed in association with a rounding machine, the latter may be driven in any desired manner and that soles may be placed in association therewith, either manually or by any proper mechanism. After a sole is in position upon the pattern, the operator, by simply projecting the slide, will cause the rollers to move to a position at which they will engage the edge of the sole and move the latter rearwardly as well as center the same with respect to the pattern. This movement will at all times be controlled by the limitation on the projection, in that, as afore brought out, the link will function as a stop. Upon the slide being projected to its maximum extent, it will be found that the sole will be properly positioned with reference to the pattern, and it will also be noted that return movement of the slide is prevented incident to the provision of the cam or wedge I8. The clamping ram may now move downwardly to secure the sole against further movement and, incident to such downward movement, the lever 20 will be swung to release the slide, and thus, under the influence of spring I5, the slide will be retracted. A rebound-cushioning element may be provided by securing to the slide a spring pressed head 33 which will engage the forward edge of the bracket I3, and consequently no damage will occur incident to the sudden arrest of rearward movement of the parts. The rounding machine may now operate on the sole, and during such operation the entire gauge may be swung around the collar 1, if this is necessary. In any event, it will be noted that the parts have been returned to their initial position and are now in a condition where a second positioning operation may be resorted to.

Thus, among others, the several objects of the invention as specifically afore noted, are achieved.

. l It will be understood that numerous changes in construction and rearrangements of the parts might be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as deiined by the claims. Y Y

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

1. A positioning gauge comprising, in combination, opposed arms each having means to engage a sole to be positioned and means o-engage a pattern with reference to which said sole is to be positioned, a mounting for said arms movable to effect engagement between said pattern engaging means and a pattern, and means for holding said mounting in such position.

2. A positioning gauge comprising, in combination, opposed arms each having means to engage a sole to be positioned and means to engage a pattern with reference to which said sole is to be positioned, a mounting for said arms movable to effect engagement between said pattern engaging means and a pattern, means for holding said mounting in such position and releasing means for said last named means.

3. A positioning gauge comprising, in combination, opposed arms each having means to engage a sole to be positioned and means to engage a pattern with reference to which said sole is to be positioned, a mounting for said arms movable to effect engagement between said pattern engaging means and a pattern, means normally acting to retract said mounting and means acting automatically to render said last named means inoperative.

4. In combination, a positioning gauge and a machine with reference to which an element is to be positioned; said gauge and machine having relatively movable parts; said gaug-e including a support, a projectable mounting on said support, means on said mounting for contacting and positioning an element with reference to said machine when said mounting is projected; means for holding said mounting in such projected position; and means acting automatically upon one of the machine parts moving with reference Vto said gauge to render said last named means inoperative.

5. In combination, a sole rounding machine including a pattern and a clamping ram movable toward said pattern; a gauge mounted adjacent said machine; said gauge including a movable mounting carrying means for contacting said pattern and means for contacting and positioning a sole blank with reference to said pattern, means for locking said mounting against movement, and means including a member 1ocated in the path of and actuated by said ram for releasing said locking means.

6. A positioning gauge including, in combination, means providing a pattern contacting surface and a sole contacting surface for causing a sole to assume a proper position with reference to a pattern, a projectable slide connected to the means providing said surfaces, means tending normally to retract saidv slide, and means for locking said slide in projected position.

7. A positioning gauge including, in combination, means providing a pattern contacting surface and a sole contacting surface for causing a sole to assume a proper position with reference to a pattern, a projectable slide connected to the means providing said surfaces, means tending normally to retract said slide, and means for normally rendering said retracting means inoperative.

8. A positioning gauge including, in combination, means to engage a sole and position the same-with reference to a machine for operating on said sole, a horizontally projectable slide mounting said sole engaging means, and means for locking said .slide in projected position.

9. A positioning gauge including, in combinamounting said sole engaging means, a spring cooperating With said slide to normally retract the same, and means for locking said slide in projected position.

10. A gauge including a bracket, a slide mounted by said bracket, a pair of arms pivotally mounted by said slide, sole and pattern engaging elements mounted adjacent the outer end of each of said arms, said slide being projectable bodily to move said arms to bring said elements into contact with a sole and pattern respectively, and a stop engageable with said pattern to limit the amount of projection of said slide.

11. A positioning gauge including, in combination, sole and pattern engaging elements, means for permitting projection of the same into contact with a sole and pattern to position the former with reference to the latter, and a stop for limiting the amount of such projection.

l2. A positioning gauge including, in combination, sole and pattern engaging elements, means for permitting projection of the same into contact with a sole and pattern to position the former with reference to the latter, and means associated with said rst named means to engage said pattern to limit the movement of said projecting means.

13. A positioning gauge including, in combination, a bracket, a slide mounted thereby, a pair of arms secured adjacent the forward end of said slide, sole and pattern engaging elements mounted adjacent the outer ends of said arms, and a pattern engaging stop connected to said arms.

14. A positioning gauge including, in combination, a bracket, a slide mounted thereby, a pairV of relatively movable arms secured adjacent the forward end of said slide, sole and pattern engaging elements mounted adjacent the outer ends of said arms, and a slotted link connected to said arms to limit outwardand inner movement of the same with respect to each other, said link being engageable with said pattern to act as a stop.

15. A. positioning gauge including, in combination, a projectable slide having gauge elements thereon, means for retracting said slide, a wedge element cooperating with said slide to prevent such retraction, and Wedge releasing means to be engaged by a machine part and operated thereby.

16. A positioning gauge including, in combination, a projectable slide having gauge elements thereon, means for retracting said slide, a wedge element cooperating with said slide to prevent such retraction, a lever mounted to move adjacent said wedge and connected thereto to release the same, and said lever being connectible to a machine part to be actuated thereby.

17. A positioning gauge including, in combination, a slide, opposed arms pivotally mounted on said slide, means normally urging said arms toward each other, means on each arm providing a pattern contacting surface and a sole contacting surface, said slide being projectable to engage said surfaces against a pattern and sole respectively, and a stop engageable with such pattern to limit the amount of such projection.

18. A positioning gauge including, in combination, a slide, opposed arms pivotally mounted on said slide, means normally urging said arms toward each other, means on each arm providing a pattern contacting surface and a sole contacting surface, said slide being projectable to engage said surfaces against a pattern and sole respectively, means tending normally to retract said slide, a stop engageable with such pattern to limit the amount of such projection, and means operative to hold said slide in projected position.

19. A positioning gauge including, in combination, means providing a pattern contacting surface and a sole contacting surface for causing a sole to assume a proper position with respect to a pattern, a projectable slide mounting said means providing said surfaces, means tending normally to retract said slide, means for frictionally engaging said slide to hold it in pro' jected position, and means for releasing said WILLIAM C. CARD, JR. 

